New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-22
when went to hi. Thursday evening No
known for the suicide
THE MORALS OF THE CAPITAL.
DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS ARRAIGNED.
PETITION IN THE SENATE FROM THE WOMAN
CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
fbY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

A PETITION IN THE SENATE FROM THE woMAN's
CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
fBr TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-A sensation is likely to be
caused by petition presented in the Senate to-day from
the woman's Christian Temperance Union of Washing
ton The matters set forth In the petition have been the
subjects Of quiet investigation BY Tribune CORES
pondent for some time and the RENTS closely coincide
with those obtained By the independent yetganGn
plora BILE condition of affairs in the District OF Columbia
For this the District Commissioners appointed by Pres-
dent Cleveland are mainly responsible.
When he presented the petition in the Senate today
Senator Colquitt said that it bold and aggressive
and challenged an investigation. 1t demanded the
attention and scrutiny OF the Senate IL was the plea
OF mothers and wives. Christian women who hon0red
this city and who known in the most benevolent
works. 1t was the plea OF dependent women against
such OF vice and lawlessness as was both
alarming and humiliatng. Mr. Colqutt said that the
Senate could not disregard the voice OF when
it was raised in behalf OF social purity and pubic
! virtue. That petition an impeachment of public
morals at the National Capital, which showed this
CITY to be little better in the scale OF morality than the
most depraved. He could not see how the Senate
could excuse itself to the Nation or the world Tor
| ignoring the matter.
The petitioners say that in the interest of their homes
they sorrowfuy submit the facts" Among the
allegations are these That the Commissioners dis
regarding the purity the safety and the NOR interests
and rights of the people, and in direct violation of
law as the petitioners believe have been for months
permitting and protecting gamOling bells, poo-rooms
|
ttuton, immortality and vice, in carrying on vicious
and pencious business In all sections OF the city that
the Commissioners in their free and unlimited dstribn
ton Of liquor licenses have increased the number OF
drinking places unprecedented extent their num-
Der being than 900 in excess OF the number at
any other period in the history OF the District, and
have fosted upon the public liquor establishment to
about every lao persons; and if there be added to
this alarming test the great number of known houses
of ill.rePu!e PcOrcoms gambling house, and mot other
contemplate and yet all of these places are Known
protected and permitted not by the quiet acHuescence
of the Commissioners but by their aggressive authority
The petition states that large numbers of the houses
of illrepute are known to the Commissioners to be
deposit 100 with the District Commissioners and
then permitted TO sell all kinds of liquor without even
obtaining licenses Recently member OF the police
torce directed gather up the outstanding receipts
for the above toned deposits; and the Comms-
sioners direct violation OF law as your petitioners
believe have granted liquor licenses 70 many OF these
| houses OF prostitution and vice dens
Among the specific charges made by the petitioners
are tia the law requiring the Commissioners to satisfy
themselves OF the good moral character OF the appli-
cant before granting license ia Systematically vlo-
lated and that licenses are granted to notorious houses
OF i'll repue that liquor shops are licensed within
400 feet OF the High School. the Wallach. Peabody
and other public schools in violation Of law, and that
the law has been violated in granting licenses to men
charged with crimes. Cases OF this kind are cited.
including ana locations IL is charged Il at the
house No. 1922 Penns, lvania-ave. used Tor the
gambling schemes OF the Louisiana Lottery is owned
| OF the auor dealers association is bondsman OF
| of tue Commissioners.
Senator Colouitt presented memorial from minis
ters of different denominations in Washington sustain
ing the petition and Senator kidd eberger presented
petition Of like from Virginans. Senator Ingalls,
! who is chairman OF the District Committee. said that
tue allegations presented in the petition had long en-
gagged the attention of the committee. No doubt there
was great violation, not only of law but OF moral and
social order. in connection with these TRANSACTION
Licenses had been granted in violation OF statutory
| provisions. But in order that the Senate and tho
couniry might understand that the District Commit
hal t,er henu nh la
matters he felt il his duty to call attention to the TACT
that on February T. 1886. he had introduced bill
regulating the nale OF titled and ermeBted liquors
in the District and that the 10Th CT the same month
that bill had been reported by the Committee and had
subsequently passed the senate That bill was now
before the hi, trict Committee OF the House. III the
other branch OF Congress had been as digent as the
Senate enc great of omilaint would have been
During the reading of the petition Commissioners
Webb ana Whesley occupied seats on the door OF the
Senate Respecting some OF the matters alleged IN the
petition n TRIBUNE correspondent has obtained from
"A respected and Trustworthy citizen OF Washington,
who has had to get ut the facts state
mcnt which, in part, IL as follows:
Since the new District Commissioners were ap-
poin ted. they decided 10 permit the Keepers OF us
orderly houses to sell uuor at retail provided they
occurred tho OF property holders and resident
hou ekeepers az required by ". and paid The usual
license ices 800 year. license however, Is not
granted in due form Ser,lcate OF deposit Ior ,ne
and no report from the police 10 required on these
cases IA is the case with the applications oil ordinary
LIQUOR sellers or. AT the present
for wholesale liquor liceuses.
Before the abolition OF the liquor license board.
which took place short time before the beginning OF
the present license year. tue keeper OF certain house
applied tor retail liquor license but mas unable to
procure The necessary signatures The reense board
recomme nded the to the Commissioners tor dis
approval One OF the Commissioners thereupon sent
Tor q member of the license board and requested MN
to certify that the applicant had obtained con
sent OF a majority OF the property-hoders
! according to law. This request being refused
the Commissioner remarked that he wouic nx IT,
Subsequently member OF the license board met the
applicant Tor this license, who informed HIM that the
! Commissioners had fixed 1t all right and that the
| police we're not to interfere with her. Before the
adjustment OF the license board the Commissio ners
ordered that when II appeared the applications for
liquor licenses OF keepers disordery houses that they
had the necessary gnature the cense board should
80 inform the Chief OF Police who not to trouble
them, although a license in due form would not be
| granted them"